Process of preventing and extinguishing fires in petroleum, &amp;c., springs.



. c. GAUTSCH. PROCESS or PREVBNTING AND EXTINGUISMNQ FIRES 1N PBT dm., SPRINGS. nrmonml mm nn.ao.1so5.

RCLEUM,

N TOR i UNITED S'IIYIES CONRAD GAUTscH, or s'rEeLifiz, N'i'giii BERLIN PROCESS 0F PREVENTING ANDEXTlNGUlSHlNG FIRES lN PETROLEUM, ICU SPRINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

intra NT oir-Fien. 1

Patented Aug. 15, 1905,.

Application tiled March 30, 1.9055 Serial No. 252.972.

uset'ul Improvements in Processes ot Preventl ing. and Ilxtinguishingilir/es in Petroleum, Naphthaa'nd Similar Springs; and I do herebydeclare the following to he a t'ull, clear` and exact description ot' tl'ieinvention, such as willl .enable others skilled in the art to'ivhich itap- 'pertains to iiiake and use the same.

A The present invention consists ot' a'proess for preventingand extinguishing tires 1n pctroleum, 'naphthzn gas, and similar springs,-

or wells, as hereinafter more particularly set forth. A

According to the present invention, highly compressed or liquefied gases,- such as carhonic acid-sulfureus acid, ammoniac, an the like, are introduced in closed cooling systems into the wells. These gases have a very intense cooling elfect when vaporized. a In case,

however, lire brea rs out in spite of the cooling effect means are provided for introducing into the well, when burning, gases adapted to stifle the tire from the beginning'and to extin-l guish the same,

It is not necessary in carrying out the invention that a continuous circulation of the cooling medium should take place in each well; but it will be suiiicient it the cooling medium beallowedto pass through the permanent cooling-pipe system immediately when the escaping` oil commences to get hot, inwhich case the cii'culationotthe cooling medium must. he kept up until the temperature ot' the well has gone down and the danger of ignition has been ohviated.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated in a schematic manner the application otl my invention to an oil-well, from which illustration the necessary plant and themanner ot' its employment will he readily understood.

*cooling pipe, coil, or th An open-pipe system e interior of the Well for the vtire-extinguishing In carrying the invention into practice a e like u is sunk simultaneously with the boring-pipe l; t'o'r the Well c, extending to the deepest point attained by the Well-pipe, and this cooling pipe system is connected -up, aloove ground, with a refriger-v ating plant I?. which may be arranged at any convenient' placevand with which automatic temperature alarm devices are-in connection. is also provided to the gas, and` immediately when the alarm is given lthe cooling medium is turned on and tio\vs, l

under the influence of the pump j or the like,

through thecooling-coil in the well, and at the same time the tire-extinguishing gas is turned into the open-pipe system to the ivell. When the danger is over, the supply to both systems may be again turned otf. Suitahlenieans mayL f also be provided for turning the supply on and oill automatically. *Carbonio acid supplied by the generator g'inay be used for the open-l pipe system oi' other similar gas which `will not support combustion.

I claim as my invention- 1. The method of preventing and extinguishing lires in oil and gas Wells,.ivhich sists in introducing a refrigerating medium to the interior of the Well Without admixture,

and mixing with the combustible contents ot" the Well an extinguishing-gas.

2. The method of preventing and extinguishing firesin oil and gas wells, which consists in introducing to the interior ot the well Without admixture a refrigerating fluid', and mixing with the combustible contents ot' the Well a non-combustible inert gas.

In testimony whe-root' I hereunto aiiix in i'` signature inthe presence ot' tivo witnesses.

f p CONRAD GrAUTSCl'l.y

lllfitnesses:

HENRY H isi'ni-t, lVoLDuiIAR HAUPT.

,' GERMANY.-

COD" 

